The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 7: The Last Times • 247

covenant of the beloved Jesus might be sealed upon our heart, in the hope which flows from believing in Him.” 35 The elderly witness believed that the Jews had forfeited their covenant with God on account of the sin with the golden calf at Mount Sinai. “What about the renewed covenant?” asked Cesar, “didn’t God continue to deal with his people throughout their wilderness wanderings and even long after that?” The ancient witness offered no reply, and Mentor helped him back to his seat, as Justin Martyr returned to the lectern. After saying many positive things about the Hebrew Scriptures, he concluded that, “There shall be a final law and preeminent covenant, which everyone seeking the inheritance of God must obey. For, as the prophets foretold, the Law given on Mt. Sinai is now obsolete and pertains to the Jews alone, but the new covenant is universal. This latter covenant cancels the first, putting an end to it. In its place an eternal and final law, namely Christ, has been given to us, and this covenant is trustworthy, after which shall be added no further laws, commandments, or ordinances.” 36 Justin Martyr, it seemed, also believed that God’s covenant with the Jews was cancelled, but that this had happened when the new covenant—presumably the one prophesied by Jeremiah 37 —was given. While these two witnesses were testifying, I read through Romans chapter 11 in Joseph’s Bible. When they were finished, I saluted

35 Epistle of Barnabas 4:6-9 (ANF 1, 138).

36 Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho , 11 (ANF1, 199-200).

37 See Jer. 31:31-34.